Coffee With Crazy Chicks

I'm baaaaaack!! Not that any of you care...

After yesterday's Database paper, the Old Gang had planned to meet up & I went on board 72 with heavy-lidded eyes, thinking that I would doze off just as my butt hit the blue seats. But, it was not meant to be as I found myself staring out the window, willing my tired self to catch a few zzz's. This was the first time during the examination period that I went about with the absence of coffee.

Amazingly, my kitchen had run out of coffee after my sister drank the last sachet for no good reason whatsoever. We should've put out a rule that nobody should drink coffee without any good reason to, especially when Sis Lenny is undergoing exam period.

Instead, I found myself spooning up full tablespoons of Milo & condensed milk, making it extra chocolatey-sweet. I swear, I'm gonna get diebetes when I grow old. Although it did work small wonders for me as well as leaving me with a full tummy.

For the past few days, my hours of sleep took a tally of six to eight. And that's for the span of about three days, not one. And now, after I'm finally done with all my papers, I feel like dropping dead but the adrenaline rush is still ongoing. After all, for the first time in my life, I went swimming twice in a week; once with Bunny at Downtown East & the other at school after freaking out a few minutes before doing NAPFA.

There's just something in the water that when you get in & start your laps, you just feel inhuman. Like, as though impossible was really nothing & you've got super powers to overcome anything. And the thing was that, I never ever wanted to get out of that pool. Well, I felt like that, anywayz. I guess that's why water is considered therapeutic for the soul & I think it's true. But after the adrenaline diminishes into a trickle, the fatigue starts to set in.

So anywayz, I came to fetch Nini from 7-11, where she was just ending her shift. We were supposed to then meet up with Mardiyah & then wait for Fala & Nur to wave at us from their bus. They were tardy. And we had to wait at the bus stop in the scorching heat for almost an hour before they arrived.

If we had had makeup on, everything would probably have melted in the heat no matter how many times we touched it up.

We went for lunch at Century Square's all-halal foodcourt where I had a plate of crispily fried Chicken Cutlet, which I unfortunately did not finish. Even though it was a cutlet that had one part of it at the end sticking out like as if it was the chicken's head which I made fun of before masticating it. Wastely, I was. But with reason. The chicken wasn't fresh & as I sunk my teeth into the meat, it had a kinda funny smell. Blueeeeeeek...

The last one to finish her meal, I pushed my still half-full plate away, opting to only chow down the fries & coleslaw. We sat at the booth for awhile, idling away as we waited for our food to digest & then headed towards the department store where Nini & Nur wanted to have a look-see at the variety of clothes they could wear to TP's D & D at the end of this month.

We did a tour around the ladies' section as Mardiyah, Fala & I continuously yawned for the next half hour or so simultaneously after each other. You can imagine how bored we were, being the non-shopaholics that we were. The tall three were always in front, with me & Mardiyah tagging along behind.

We finally landed our butts in Starbucks after weaving around both Century Square & Tampines Mall, window-shopping. And yawning...

I ordered a Rhumba Frappucino & a Chocolatey Muffin to top it off, belatedly realizing that there was a new flavor available. I forgot what it was called but it had something to do with Valencia & as you know I am pro-Spanish, so dammit!! Next time. *eyes Tall Valencia Frappucino with much longing*

I think all the fatigue had begun to sink in the moment we went window-shopping so I was a little bit ditzy when we arrived at Starbucks. After ordering my stuff, this Malay barista asked if I wanted a tray from my plate & it took me five whole seconds to get what he was saying. And because I was looking at him quite strangely like as though he was from another planet, he had to make a tray motion with his hands & I embarrassingly had to alter my facial expression so it looked like as if I was contemplating on the idea until I finally shook my head. Very, very awkward moment there.

I lingered around the display case where Nini & Nur were musing on whether or not to take the Pasta or Potato Salad. When they finally agreed on the Potato, I peered closely into the window & saw strips of pinkish cold cuts sitting nicely atop the salad & so, I asked Nini what if that was Babi meat. When she didn't reply me, I went over to the counter where unfortunately that same Malay barista was manning & with an index finger poised on the container of the salad, I opened my mouth.

"Excuse me, is this Babi??"

And that was when laughter burst around me; Nur & Nini looking quite exasperated with me & that Malay barista looking like he was suppressing the urge to call Woodbridge, albeit grinning like an idiot. Guuuh...

Another ditzy moment for me there. To top the icing on the cake, while waiting for our drinks, there was this rack of coffee beans separated into sections with labels on them. So, I huddled into Nini, scooping a handful & said, "Hmmm...are these eatable, I wonder?"

When Nini replied yes, they were, I was quite skeptical & then Nini was like, "Yaaaa, can eat. Eat lah."

So, I popped one into my mouth.

And Nini's eyes popped wide open.

And it was only then that I realized that she was pulling my leg & by the time THAT happened, my teeth had already crunched the 'coffee bean' down & fucking hell, it did NOT taste like a coffee bean at all!!

Of course, by THEN, all four of my friends were clutching their sides, laughing themselves out. Actually, I couldn't even believe it myself, that I had threw that stupid thing in my mouth. Thank God I didn't swallow the crunched up pieces. I felt like wretching after that & the minute our drinks arrived, I allowed myself a healthy gulp of coffee, drowning down the horrible taste of plastic. Or wood. Or whatever it was made of.

And no, this time the same barista did not see that. Else, I'd be the laughingstock of Starbucks. Ohh, wait. I think I already was.

Everything that happened then, happened within the span of ten minutes. So, the ultimate way of make yourself look like you've got sponge for brains is doing it the Lenny way. Trust me, you won't go wrong.

Yech...

We sat at Starbucks till my reheated muffin went as cold as when it was first pulled out from the glass display. Till we made all kinds of jokes with the Babi in the salad, till even Fala, the current Queen of Lame, ran out of lame quirks. When Nini, Nur & Fala got up to buy a few trinkets at Montip, me & Mardiyah spent the whole length of time talking about nothing but soccer until the other three came back. And even then, we weren't even done.

See, if there's at least one thing that Mardiyah & I share, it's the passion for soccer. And Manchester United. So, you can imagine us talking up a storm about our much-loved team. Plus, some other teams worth mentioning...

Man, it's been such a long time since the five of ud hung out together. Too long, in fact. I missed my gals. The five of us came from two very distinctively different classes but we just clicked over a school musical play & bonded from there. Sure, there were spats, like all normal friendships. But, we never seemed to forget about one another. In the back of our minds, the presence of each other is always there.

Putting aside the new friends each of us has made during our three years in our respective polytechnics, I guess it's all about going back to your roots to whom you truly are, whom you really grew up with. These people, they really know you inside out & they're the only ones who can make you crack your deepest darkest secrets like no one else can.

Bitches that they are, goddammit. *winks*

And best of all, they don't judge. They never do.

Not to say that other very, very good & close friends do. But I guess all friends are different, especially if you're part of multiple groups.

Anywayz, suffice to say that my day with the Old Gang was pleasurable. It was great seeing everyone again. Especially since I missed Nini's birthday outing because I went for that NAPFA that didn't happen & ended up swimming.

We laughed & ate & ate & laughed. Temporarily, the notion of me having another paper the next day vamoosed from my mind. Comfort therapy is what I call it. With a touch of good, classic humor.

After bumming around Starbucks long enough to attract stares from the baristas, we eventually got up albeit a little reluctant & actually wanted to head over to Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf but decided against it after realizing that all the shops were closing soon.

So, the next best thing?? What, else. McDonald's, available 24/7 with around-the-clock service. My kneecap was already suffering from strains because of sitting in one position for too long when we were at Starbucks & I was constantly flexing & rubbing the spot where I had old injury.

Again, we talked about everything under the sun from our first periods to our family bloodlines. It was very nostalgic, the day we spent together. Although it just amounted to us slumming around like we had so much free time in our hands, it brought out a great feeling. Ohh yeah, we still got it goin' on. We rock!! *rolls eyes grinning*

Laterz...
Lenny GodGilla Xabs